Nichola Tyler1, Troy McEwan2, Emma R. Barrowcliffe3, Lauren Ducat4, Theresa A. Gannon5, Robert Kinscherff6, Robert Stadolnik7, James R.P. Ogloff8
1Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, 1/582 Heidelberg Road, Alphington, VIC, 3078, 2Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, 1/582 Heidelberg Road, Alphington, VIC, 3078, 3Canterbury Christ Church University, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, UK, 4Victorian Institute for Forensic Mental Health (Forensicare), Problem Behaviour Program, 505 Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill, VIC, 3068, 5Centre of Research and Education in Forensic Psychology, School of Psychology, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NP, 6Centre for Law Brain and Behaviour, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA, USA, 7FirePsych Inc., Norfolk, MA, USA, 8Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, 1/582 Heidelberg Road, Alphington, VIC, 3078
Abstract:
The public health approach to crime prevention has been used as a framework to guide research and practice into a range of problems behaviours. However, to date, it has not been applied to the prevention of deliberate firesetting. Given the low apprehension rates for deliberately set fires and the potential for significant harm, we argue that firesetting is a preventable behaviour that would benefit from being addressed as a public health issue. This presentation will outline the potential benefits of addressing firesetting as a public health issue with prevention targeted at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The limitations of existing research and the implications of this for successfully applying a public health approach to prevent firesetting, that incorporates effective assessment and prevention, will be discussed. A research agenda informed by public health principles will be presented and how this may be applied to help develop the evidence and inform effective practice and multiagency responses to deliberate firesetting.